What is annealing and why is it important to the production of glass body jewelry ?
Annealing is the process of eliminating internal stresses that occur during the shaping of handblown glass. Some annealing can be acheived in the flame, but superior glass will always be oven annealed. Kiln annealing is just as important to glassworking, as autoclaving is to body piercing. If the internal stresses aren’t removed with this process, the eventual alternative means cracking along these stress lines. Pyrex that is well formed, and kiln annealed at approximately 565°C is extremely durable.
